Journalist
Leslie Postal
Leslie Postal covers K-12 education for the Orlando Sentinel. She previously worked at newspapers in Virginia and is a graduate of Cornell University and Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
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![The action appears similar to requirements the state imposed on math and social studies textbooks said to include "critical race theory" and "social justice" material. The state Department of Education said of the climate change directive only that it "works with publishers to ensure their product aligns with our standards and does not include any form of ideology or indoctrination." The action appears similar to requirements the state imposed on math and social studies textbooks said to include "critical race theory" and "social justice" material. The state Department of Education said of the climate change directive only that it "works with publishers to ensure their product aligns with our standards and does not include any form of ideology or indoctrination."](https://www.sun-sentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/TOS-L-gov-umatilla_0677f-T-2.jpg?w=134)
Textbook authors told climate change references must be cut to get Florida’s OK
The action appears similar to requirements the state imposed on math and social studies textbooks said to include "critical race theory" and "social justice" material. The state Department of Education...
![Florida public school students lost the equivalent of nearly six months' worth of math skills because of the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers say, a deficit that four years later still plays out in Central Florida classrooms. Florida public school students lost the equivalent of nearly six months' worth of math skills because of the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers say, a deficit that four years later still plays out in Central Florida classrooms.](https://www.sun-sentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/TOS-L-Wedneath-Class-Orange-Mid-11.jpg?w=140)
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Florida students still way behind on math skills in COVID’s wake
Florida public school students lost the equivalent of nearly six months' worth of math skills because of the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers say, a deficit that four years later still plays...
![Gov. Ron DeSantis holds up bills he signed into law at Tohopekaliga High School in Kissimmee on April 18, 2024. (Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel) Gov. Ron DeSantis holds up bills he signed into law at Tohopekaliga High School in Kissimmee on April 18, 2024. (Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel)](https://www.sun-sentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/TOS-L-desantis-kissimmee-2_411b3d.jpg?w=132)
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DeSantis signs school chaplains bill opposed by pastors, Satanists, ACLU
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law Thursday allowing volunteer chaplains to counsel students in public schools, despite warnings from a pastors group, the ACLU and the Satanic Temple...
![Florida is sticking with high-stakes testing for 3rd grade promotion, high school graduation, despite a Senate proposal earlier this year to do away with them. Florida is sticking with high-stakes testing for 3rd grade promotion, high school graduation, despite a Senate proposal earlier this year to do away with them.](https://www.sun-sentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/testing.jpg?w=117)
Florida sticks with testing for 3rd-grade promotion, high school graduation
Florida is sticking with high-stakes testing for 3rd grade promotion, high school graduation, despite a Senate proposal earlier this year to do away with them.
![Gov. Ron DeSantis lashed out Thursday against what he calls the book banning 'hoax' but wants laws regarding books in schools tweaked. Gov. Ron DeSantis lashed out Thursday against what he calls the book banning 'hoax' but wants laws regarding books in schools tweaked.](https://www.sun-sentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/TOS-L-DeSantis-education-19_e648f1-6.jpg?w=132)
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DeSantis again calls book banning a ‘hoax’ but wants laws tweaked
Gov. Ron DeSantis lashed out Thursday against what he calls the book banning 'hoax' but wants laws regarding books in schools tweaked.
![A shooting spree in Brevard County that left four dead Sunday ended the life of a retired Catholic priest who had spent 25 years in Orlando parishes, including a stint as a teacher at Bishop Moore Catholic High School. A shooting spree in Brevard County that left four dead Sunday ended the life of a retired Catholic priest who had spent 25 years in Orlando parishes, including a stint as a teacher at Bishop Moore Catholic High School.](https://www.sun-sentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/funeral24-1.jpg?w=125)
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Shootings in Central Florida take life of retired Catholic priest
A shooting spree in Brevard County that left four dead Sunday ended the life of a retired Catholic priest who had spent 25 years in Orlando parishes, including a stint...
![The highly rated private schools yanked from Florida's voucher programs in September immediately appealed their suspensions, denying Gov. Ron DeSantis' accusations that they had "direct ties" to communist China that threatened student safety. The highly rated private schools yanked from Florida's voucher programs in September immediately appealed their suspensions, denying Gov. Ron DeSantis' accusations that they had "direct ties" to communist China that threatened student safety.](https://www.sun-sentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/TOS-L-Park-Maitland-02-1-1.jpg?w=116)
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Sagemont Prep, Park Maitland deny control by China, appeal voucher suspensions
The highly rated private schools yanked from Florida's voucher programs in September immediately appealed their suspensions, denying Gov. Ron DeSantis' accusations that they had "direct ties" to communist China that...
![Lawmakers in the Florida House want to repeal the Hope Scholarship for bullied students. It never got many takers since it started in 2018. Lawmakers in the Florida House want to repeal the Hope Scholarship for bullied students. It never got many takers since it started in 2018.](https://www.sun-sentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Florida-House-2.jpg?w=132)
Florida House moves to repeal rarely used scholarships for bullied students
Lawmakers in the Florida House want to repeal the Hope Scholarship for bullied students. It never got many takers since it started in 2018.
![The Florida Virtual School lost a long-running trademark dispute that it spent more than $1 million to pursue when a federal judge ruled last week that the state's public online school had shown “no credible evidence” that a competitor had infringed on its trademarks or confused parents looking for virtual classes for their children. The Florida Virtual School lost a long-running trademark dispute that it spent more than $1 million to pursue when a federal judge ruled last week that the state's public online school had shown “no credible evidence” that a competitor had infringed on its trademarks or confused parents looking for virtual classes for their children.](https://www.sun-sentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Florida-Virtual-School.jpg?w=140)
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Florida Virtual School spent $1 million-plus in tax dollars on federal lawsuit it lost
The Florida Virtual School lost a long-running trademark dispute that it spent more than $1 million to pursue when a federal judge ruled last week that the state's public online...
![Three public school teachers challenged a new Florida law in federal court Wednesday, arguing the state’s ban on using personal titles and pronouns that do not match a person’s sex at birth is unconstitutional. Three public school teachers challenged a new Florida law in federal court Wednesday, arguing the state’s ban on using personal titles and pronouns that do not match a person’s sex at birth is unconstitutional.](https://www.sun-sentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Florida-Virtual-School.jpg?w=140)
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3 teachers challenge Florida pronoun law in federal lawsuit
Three public school teachers challenged a new Florida law in federal court Wednesday, arguing the state’s ban on using personal titles and pronouns that do not match a person’s sex...